The fashion and home furnishing retailer Laura Ashley shocked the apparel market last week, after announcing the resignation of its second co-chief executive in two months. Ainum Mohd-Saaid said she was resigning for personal reasons. The news came shortly after Laura Ashley announced of the resignation of its joint CEO Rebecca Navarednam. The company has also admitted that its top designer Alistair Blair hailed as Laura Ashley’s fashion savior and trained at Givenchy and Dior also left at the end of 2004 by “mutual consent.”

The brand that gained world recognition due to its multicolored floral patterns has set the record of losing 10 chief executives in 13 years. Due to recently announced resignations its shares fell 8.5% to their lowest level for nearly a year, reports The Guardian.

The brands spokesperson commented on Mohd-Saaid’s resignation, which gave rise to speculations that co-chief executive left following Laura Ashley’s poor Christmas sales, saying :“ It really is for genuine personal reasons and to elaborate further would be betraying confidences.”

Photo: Cotton Organza Embroidered Camisole by Laura Ashley